Surprise inspections of 81 blood centres across 31 districts reveal violations; operations of seven more centres suspended with immediate effect
Action taken over lack of mandatory ELISA testing, faulty deep freezers and absence of doctors and trained technical staff
Show-cause notices issued to other inspected centres for deficiencies
Department committed to ensuring safe, quality blood at reasonable prices for patients
Lucknow, October 2026 : A special inspection drive by the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFSDA) has exposed several irregularities at blood centres operated by charitable trusts and societies across the state. The inspections found instances where rapid test kits were being used instead of mandatory ELISA tests for blood screening, blood components were stored in faulty deep freezers, and blood collection, processing and distribution continued despite the absence of doctors and trained technical personnel.
Taking action against the violations, the department has ordered the immediate suspension of all activities related to blood and blood components at 14 centres. Following action against seven centres in the first phase, operations at seven more centres have now been stopped. Show-cause notices are also being issued to other inspected centres where deficiencies were detected.
As part of the statewide campaign aimed at ensuring the availability of safe, quality blood at reasonable prices, surprise inspections have so far been conducted at 81 blood centres across 31 districts.
Inspection covers mandatory blood tests and storage facilities
Inter-district teams of drug inspectors are examining blood quality, mandatory screening for infections, safe storage of blood components, cold-chain management, temperature control, stock and donor registers, pricing practices, and the availability of trained technical personnel.
The irregularities uncovered during the inspections indicate that some centres were neglecting basic standards essential for blood safety. The department launched the special drive to strengthen monitoring and ensure compliance with prescribed norms.
According to departmental officials, the intensive inspections are being conducted in view of the seasonal and infectious diseases affecting different parts of the state. The primary objective is to ensure an uninterrupted supply of safe blood, platelets and other essential blood components while maintaining transparency in the system.
During periods when diseases such as dengue and malaria are prevalent, patients may require additional blood and blood components. The department said it was committed to ensuring that patients receive safe and quality blood at reasonable prices.
Major irregularities detected during inspections
1. Jai Hind Charitable Blood Centre, Agra: Thermographs required for continuous recording of refrigerator and freezer temperatures were unavailable. Blood components used for sterility testing were issued to patients without maintaining the necessary records.
2. Pakwara Charitable Blood Centre, Moradabad: The medical officer and counsellor were absent during the inspection. New staff had been appointed without prior intimation. Sterility and CPDA testing were not being conducted, and expired injections were found in the emergency tray.
3. Jeevan-24 Charitable Blood Centre, Amroha: Rapid kits were being used for transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) screening, while ELISA and sterility tests were not being conducted. Fungal growth was detected in the component room, and expired medicines were found in the emergency kit.
4. Yashwanti Charitable Blood Centre, Bijnor: Several serious violations were detected. Records relating to blood bank refrigerator temperature graphs, one per cent sterility testing, CPDA solution testing and permissions for blood donation camps were unavailable. The temperature of a deep freezer meant to operate at -80°C was found to be 26.7°C. A generator, emergency medicines and mandatory personnel, including a staff nurse and technical supervisor, were also missing. Other irregularities included blood collection by an unauthorised person, failure to display the rate list, exclusive reliance on software instead of manual logbooks, and absence of records relating to donor protein estimation and bulk transfer.
5. Bharat Humanity Charitable Blood Centre, Badaun: The centre was found operating without a valid agreement and adequate arrangements. No doctor or technical staff was present during the inspection. Essential blood collection equipment and statutory registers were also unavailable.
6. Dibai Charitable Blood Centre, Bulandshahr: The medical officer and technical staff were absent. Serious discrepancies were found in stock and pilot tube records. Refrigerator temperature logs were not maintained, and expired medicines were found in the emergency tray.
7. Badlapur Charitable Blood Centre, Jaunpur: Mandatory staff were absent. Records relating to sterility, CPDA and ELISA screening were unavailable. The refrigerator thermograph was found faulty, while expired injections were detected in the emergency tray.
Inter-district teams inspect centres in 31 districts
Under the campaign, the highest number of inspections — 13 — was conducted in Lucknow. Seven centres each were inspected in Agra and Muzaffarnagar, five each in Aligarh, Kanpur and Prayagraj, and four in Bijnor.
Three centres each were inspected in Amroha, Ghaziabad and Gorakhpur. Two centres each were covered in Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Lakhimpur Kheri and Varanasi.
One blood centre each was inspected in Baghpat, Bahraich, Banda, Barabanki, Bareilly, Basti, Badaun, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Kasganj, Kaushambi, Mainpuri, Mau, Meerut, Moradabad and Sant Kabir Nagar.
The UPFSDA has directed that blood and blood components available at centres whose operations have been suspended be disposed of safely in accordance with prescribed standards. Show-cause notices are also being issued to other inspected centres for the deficiencies detected. The special inspection campaign will continue.
The department said its objective was not limited to taking action against irregularities but also to making the entire process — from blood collection to its delivery to patients — safe and transparent.
Emphasising the importance of blood donation as a means of saving lives, the department said it had intensified monitoring and enforcement measures to ensure that negligence at blood centres did not put patients' lives at risk.
